Improvement in nail-machines



3 Sheets Sheet 2.

w. wlcKERsHAM.

Nail Machine.

PatentedV Feb. 6, .1866.

u, PETERS. Phew-ummm uva-hingen, u. c.

. the machine.

PATENT FFICE.

WM. WICKERSHAM, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN NAIL-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,479, (lated February6, 1866.

A of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inNail-Machines;

and I do hereby declare that the following is j a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawingsfmakin g a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is aside elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 isan end elevation of the same. Figli is a vertical longitudinal sectionofthe same. Fig.5is an elevation of a part of the movable cutter-stockwith the cutters in place, andalso a part of the stationary cutters.Fig. 6 is ahorizontal section through the movable cutter-stock, showingthe construction behind the cutters with the stationary cutters inplace. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section through the same parts.Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the carriagewith one of the pinchersthat hold the sheet of metal. Fig. 9 is a top view of one of the clampsthat hold the cutters in place. Fig. 1() is a diagram showing the orderand position ingwhich the nails are cut from the sheet of metal 5 andFig. l1 is a separate view of the nail.

My improved machine is for the purpose of cutting nails from a sheet ofmetal having a breadth equal to the length of several .nails The firstfeature of my invention relates to the manner of arranging the cuttersin the movable cutter-stock to distribute the power and so that themachine shall be relieved of the great strain which would be produced bycutting across the entire breadth of the sheet of metal at the sameinstant and it consists in placing the several movable cutters at adifferent distance vertically from the bed-cutters, the edges of whichare subtantially at the same height, so that some of the nails will becut a little before the others, and thus distribute the power and divideand reduce the strain upon the machine.

The second feature of my invention also relates to the manner ofarranging the cutters in their stocks, so that they will all retaintheir properplaces in relation to each other in In cutting nails from abroad sheet of metal by the mode of operation herein described, inwhicheach` pair of cutters co- 'tionary cutters to each other.

operates with the next pair but one at either side of it to form theopposite sides ofthe nail, it is necessary that the distances apart ofthe cutters across thel machines should be accuF rately adjusted andmaintained in relation to each other, and 1o the extent of the lateralmovement given to the sheet of metal to transfer any section Aof it fromone pair of cutters to another, and in the practical working j'of themachine it is very desirable that the cutters should be so held that theremoval of any one of them for any kpurpose should not displace theothers. This part of my invention therefore consists in forming in thecutter-stocks a separate recess, or its equivalent, to receive the backofeach cutter, while their front edges come into close proximity, so asto produce a continuous cut across the sheet.

The third feature of my invention relates to the method of confining thecutters in the stock to avoid making holes or slots in the same toreceive bolts, so that nearly the whole length of the cutters may beused, which the making of slots in the same would prevent, and also toavoid producing a lateral strain upon the cutter-stock which would beproduced by confining a large number of cutters in the ordinary way, andwould be liable to spring` the cutter-stock so as to interfere with 'theadjustment of the movable and sta- This part of my invention, therefore,consists in the employment of detached clamps to hold the cutters inplace, which embrace the cutter-stock, and one jaw of which bears uponthe face or the cutters and the other jaw upon the back ofthe stockopposite to it, so that the'pressure upon the cutter to hold it in placedoes not tend to spring the cutter-stock.

The fourth feature of my invention relates to the manner of constructingthe clamps that hohl the cuttersin place; and it consists inl 'combiningwith one jaw'of the clamp a lever for applying the pressure and asuitable catch for holding the lever under strain, the con structionofwhich will be hereinafter explained.

The ifth feature of my invention relates to the means employed to insurean accurate lateral movement to the sheet in relation to the cutters, sothat the two edges of the nail shall be symmetrical; and it consists inthe employment, in combination with the sliding frame, of fixed stops,whicharrest the lateral motion of the frame at a determined point ateach limit ot' its movement, and thus insures the accurate position ot'the sheet upon the cutters; and it also consists in the employment, incombination with said sliding frame, ot a fixed and a yielding guide,which press against the edges of the sheet and between which it isguided'as it is moved forward to the cutters.

ln the drawings the letters indicate the same parts in all the tigures.

A is the ir'ame or bed of the machine upon which the mechanism isarranged, as shown, and to which the stationary cutters A are secured.

Bis the moving cutter-stock to which the moving cutters B are secured.It is mounted upon pivots a a, which are secured in the bed by thesetscrews a', and the cap b, and screws c c. The stock B receives areciprocatingmotion through the connecting-rod D from the crank-shaft Cin an obvious manner. E is a 1y-wl1eel upon the crank-shaft to givesteadi-l ness to its movement.

F F, 8mo., are detached clamps, which hold the cutters B in the stock B,and F F', &c., are similar clamps, which hold the stationary cutters Ainthe bed. The clamps are made ot' the form shown more distinctly inFigs. 7 and 9, so as to embrace the cutter and stock and to bear uponthe face of the cutter and back of the stock at points nearly oppositeyto each other. One jaw of the clamp is provided with a lever, j', whichhas its fulcrum at f', the short arm of which bears upon the back ot'the stock, and the long arm ot' which reachesk back beyond the body ofthe clamp, as shown, to give sufficient leverageto apply the requisitepressure to the cutter, and is held by a ratchet, f2, formed upon thebody ot' the clamp, into which a catch upon the side of the lever takes,in an obvious manner; but instead of this lever a set-screw may be usedto apply the pressure working through the jaw of the clamp.

The cutters A and B are each made of the same cross-section throughouttheir entire lengththat is to say, the transverse form or contour of theface is that designed to be given vto the edge ot' the nail cut by it,and the back is made longitudinally parallel to it. The cutting-edge isformed on the end of the cutter by grinding it to a slightly acuteangle, as is shown in Fig. 7, and it is sharpened by grinding it uponthe end only, so that the form and position oi the cutting-edge may beretained unaltered in its relation to the cutter with which it works bymerely settin'git forward lengthwise by the set-screws e e as fast as itis worn until it is worn out. The stationary cutters are all placed inthe'bed at nearly the same height, but in the movable stock they areplaced at different heights, as seen in Fig. 5, so that the middle nailsare cut a little in advance of the others, which follow in. closesuccession, thus dividing the power and distributing the strain upon themachine.

Every other'one of the cutters in each series is made thicker than theothers to place their cutting-edges in advance of the others in theplane of the sheet, so 'as to cut the several columns ot' nails from thesheet separately.

The cutters are placed side by side, so as to make a continuous cutacross the sheet, and the backs ofthe cutters lit into recesses in thecutter-stocks formed vby the ribs h 71,. as seen in Fig. 6, by whichmeans the relative positions of the cutters to each other are exactlypreserved, and the removal ot' any olie of them does not derange theothers. The back sides ot' the cutter-stocks are made with elevationsand depressions opposite the several cutters,

as shown, so that the distance through the stock and each cutter is thesame, and so that,

and the screws are held from turning by the l binding-nuts e2.

Behind each cutter in the movable stock B is inserted a broad iat wedge,j, nicely fitted, against which the back ot' the cutter rests. Thiswedge isheld in position by the set-screw d, the head of which takesinto anotch inthe wedge, as is shown in Fig. 7, by the turning ot" whichthe' wedge may be moved in or out to adjustv the edge ot thecutter withaccuracy to the stationary cutter that works with it. The screws d areheld t'romturning by the binding-nuts d.

Gisa rocking-shaft, which is mounted in boxes H attached'to the frame A,as'showu, andlis provided with an offset-arm, G', which hasa pin and`roller g, which works in the groove in the cam I, from which'it receivesits motion. It has also two arms, G2 G2, which are connected with theshifting-frame K by the connecting-rods 7c, and thus impart a'reciproeatin g lateral motion to it.

The cam I is mounted upon the stud l,se". cured to the frame A, andreceives its motion by means ofthe gear I2', which is attached to it,which `en gages with the pinion J on the crankshaft C. The sizes of thegears are suchthat the crank-shaft will make just two revolutions to oneot' the cam. The groove in the camy is of such a form that itsobliquitywill give to the frame K a lateral `movement exactly equal tothe breadth ot' two cutters, and for about one-fourth ot' a revolution'at the time when the .nails are being cut it` will hold the frame still.The shifting or sliding frameK is made with two rails, upon which thecarriage L is guided and moves toward and'from the cutters. These railsare mounted upon cross-bars K K2, the trst of which is fixed in therails, but the last ot' which turns loosely in them,and also serves as apinion-shaft and carries two pinions, a a, which work in the racks l Lupon the carriage, and it also carries a ratchet-wheel, O, in the teethof which the'pawl P works and imparts to it an intermittent motion tofeed the carriage forward at each reciprocation ot' the lframe. Thoseparts of the'bars K K2 out-l side of the rails are made cylindrical andslide in bearings L on the bed A, and support and guide the frame K inyits'lateral movement.

L2 L2, Sto., are collars or'stops on the crossbars KYK2, which bring upagainst the bearings L at each limit of motion of the frame K and serveto stop it in either direction at a deiinite point in relation to thecutters;

M M are stationary jaws of clam ps or pinchers attached to the end ofthecarriage L, and M M are movable jaws that work with them, by which thesheet of metal is held by the ed ge and presented to the cutters and fedforward at each cut.

The movable jaws ofthe pinchers are worked by the rocking-shaft N-bymeans of the arms N, which carry pins that work in slots in the movablejaws, as is seen in Figs. 4 and S, and

hus open and shut them simultaneously. they vare held either open orclosed by mea-ns )f the springcatch N2, vwhich engages with thecross-bar of the carriage.

On the ends of the rails of the shiftingframe K, next to the cutters,are fixed two guides, S and S,.between which the sheet of metal is heldedgewise close to the cutters. The guide S is rigid, and its innersurface is in line with the inside 'of the rail to which it is attached,but the guide S is attached to the rail by a spring which permits it toyield to the inequalities in the width of the sheet and at the same timeto hold it firmly, and in connection with the stops L2 to insure theaccurate lateral movement of the sheet of metal, so that the cuts thatform the two edges of the nail shall be exactly opposite to each other,and the cuts lengthwise of the sheet between the several sections shallaccurately follow each other, as seen in Fig'. l0.

R is a crossbar secured to the frame A at each end just above thestationary cutters, beneath which the sheet of metal passes to thecutters, and which serves to hold the sheet downl when the movablecutters rise.

rlhe pawl P is a plate of metal of a breadth at least equal to thelateral movement of the frame K and the thickness of the ratchet O, andis mounted upon bearings and held up to the ratchet by the spring p,asis shown in Fig. 4. The edge of the pawl that works in the teeth ofthe ratchet is made broader in the middle than at the ends by an amountat least equal to the distance apart of the teeth ofthe ratchet andinclined from themiddle each way, so that as the frame K is moved eitherway the ratchet-wheel, sliding over the pawl, is turned one tooth, whichis so proportioned to the pinions a, which work in the racks Z of thecarriage L as toy advance it the distance necessary to give the properbreadth to the nail.

T isa stationary pawl which works in the ratchet 0 to prevent it fromturning back, and is held in place by the spring t.

W W are a tight and loose pulley1 on the crank-shaft C, by which poweris applied to operate the' machine. y

In operating this machine the carriage lL is drawn back and the pinchersM M are opened by nnhooking the catch N2 and raising the arm N of therocker N till the lower catch ot' N2 engages with the cross-bar of thecarriage and holds the jaws of the pinchersopen. The sheet of metal ofthe exact width necessary to make the required number of nails is then4placed between the rails of the frame K, with one edge against theguide S and the vback ed gein the jaws of the pinchers. The pinchers arethen closed upon it by pushing down the arm N of the rocker until theupper catch on N2 engages with the cross-bar, as shown in Fig. 8, thespringing of the arms M compensating for any small inequality in thethickness of the sheet. The sheet, with the carriage, is then movedforward, passing between the guides S and S until the forward edge isnear the cutters. rlhe machine is then put in operation, and as thesheet is moved laterally by the shifting-frame Ky and fed forward by thecarriage L by the mechanism described, between the operations of thecutters, the nails are cut from its forward edge by the'cutters in themanner shown by Fig. 10, each `nail being formed bythe operation of twopairs of cutters, one pair forming one edge of the nail and the nextpair but one from it on either side forming the other edge ot' it, aseries ot' nails being cut at each alternation of the sheet. The lateralmovement of the frame K and sheet of metal is, by means of the stops L2,cam I, and intervening mechanism already described, arranged so as to beexactly equal to the width of two cutters which brings the cuts to formthe two edges of the nail exactly opposite.

It is obvious that the several parts of my machine may be much modifiedin form and still retain essentially the same mode of operation, and apart only of my invention may be usefully employed without taking thewhole ot' it, some of which modifications I will suggest-as, forinstance, it is not material that the form lgiven to the face of thecutter should extend the entire length, but only for so much of it as isdesigned to be used for cutting-edge, as the form of the other part ofthe face is immaterial; and instead of making the cutters of differentthicknesses, as shown, they might all be made of the same thickness, andthe seats of the cutters made alternately deeper, to give the alternateprojection of the cutters, and the cutters might also be made with acutting-edge upon each end, in which case all the cutters might be madeexactly alike and worked right or left as their position in the seriesrequired, and in relation to the setting of the movable cutters so thatthey shall not all cut at once, the order shown in the drawing is notmaterial, but may be varied at pleasure. In relation to the manner offorming the recesses in the cutter-stocks to receive the cutters, also,any other convenient form that will guide them longitudinally anddetermine their position in the stock may be used instead of theformshown, and the arrangement of wedges for adjusting the movable cuttersmay also be used,if desired, with the stationary cutters as well as theothers.

lmodifications ol' a similar character may be made Without changing thegeneral mode of operation of the machine; and although I have describedand represented my improvements as applied to a machine withreciprocating movable cutters, which, for certain reasons, I now deem tobe the best form in practice, still many of the features of' improvementare equally applicable to a machine Working with revolving cutters, andI therefore do not limit their use to the form ot' machine hereinbet'orerepresented. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

. 1. Placing some ot' the cutters a little in advance of the others inthe direction otl their cutting movement, so that some of the nailsshall be cut a little before the others, for the purpose of relieving`the strain upon the inachine, substantially as described.

2. The series of recesses in the cutter-stock, formed, substantially asshown, tor determine the position of the cutters in the stock or theemployment of equivalent means to accomplish the same purpose,substantially as described.

3. The method herein described of confining the cutters in the stock.

4. The employment, in combination with the shifting frame and carriage,of piuchers or clamps, for the purpose of holding the sheet andpresenting it to the cutters, substantially as described.

5. rIhe employment, in combination With the sliding frame K, of thestops L2 L2 or other equivalent device, for arresting the movement oftheframe at the same fixed point in either direction, substantially asdescribed.

6. The employment, in combination With the frame K and carriage L, ortheir equivalents, y Il of the fixed and yielding guides S and S', ortheir equivalents, to guide the sheet of metal laterally as it is movedforward, substantially as described.

VILLIAM WIGKERSHAM.

Witnesses WM. H. BISHOP, A. DELACY.

